baetlett



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' W. A. BARTLETT.

PNEUMATIC CANNON. No. 344,936. Tatehted July 6,1886.

q qhtweoogo' amen t er I (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. A. BARTLETT.

PNEUMATIC CANNON.

vN0. 344,936. Patented July 6, 1886.

w z m A NHED STATES ATENT Erica.

WVALLACE A. BARTLETT, ()F \VASHINGTOX, DISTRICT OF (JOLUEHEIA.

PNEUMATlC CANNON.

ii FCIFICATION forming part ofLettez's Patent No. 34%,8-36, dated July 6, 1886.

Application tiled l-i-brnary SI, 1590. Serial No. 191,391. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VALLAUE A. fllin'rm-z'rr, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements i Pneumatic Cannon, of which the following enec being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to pneumatic or similar cannon, specially intended tor throwing -1it'e dines, fire extinguishing grenades, and

similar projectiles at short range.

The invention consists in certain constructions and combinations, by which the tiringvalve and breech block aremade interdcpend ent in operation; also, in improvements in the mounting and training mechanism, by which facility of handling and a wide range of tire may be had.

Figure 1 isasideelevation ot' agun mounted on a carriage, showing a convenient arrangement oi" air-flasks, lines, and projectiles, and the gun swivcled on its pedestal in operative position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the gun mounted on a tripod, showing high elevation. Fig. 3 is a rear perspective oi gun on tripod. Fig. 4is a rear elevation of gun, showing general position of the working parts, the gun and its yoke being detached from tripod or pedestal. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of rear end of gun and flask, showing relation oi valve and breech block. Fig. (i is a reverse side elevation of gun and flask. 4

A indicates the carriage, which has preferably twostoragetlasks, B B", one 01' which is connected with the gun by a hose, 0, or in other suitable manner. Each of these flasks will supply compressed air for forty to titty shots for four-ineh guns.

The lite-lines D and their projectiles F are stored under the drivers seat F, in convenient position for leading into the muzzle of the gun.

The projectiles for extinguishing tires are conveniently stored in a box at 1 and the gunncfis platform G, atthe rear ofthe carriage, can be swungnp on links H when the carriage is running to a tire, but swings down near the level of the street when in use.

The gun can readily be lifted from standard K, in which the yoke swivels, and mounted on a specification, refera tripod, M, when it is desirable to use the gun trom a window, or froniother locality not easily accessible to the carriage.

Oueof thetlasks, 13 01-13, may be taken from the carriage with the gun, or the hose G, which is generally of one-half-inch diameter, maybe of such length as to connect the gunilask with the storagedlask, orwith an aircompressor from a considerable distance.

The gnn'tube 1 is supported by means of collar 2, which has trunnions b on a yoke, 4, which swivels on piutle 5. The side pieces, 6 6, ol the yoke ttl'QOliHCh or oblique from the perpendicular line of the pintle, so that the gun may be elevated nearly or quite to the perpendicular without having the gun-tube come into contact with the base 7 of the yoke. The elevating screw-rod S) is at one side of the gun, an'dis operated by crank-handle 1t). l'he rear bearing, 11, of rod 9 is a sleeve swivch-d to a sideprojection, 1.2, from the gnu-tube, and the nut is swiveled to the yoke. 13y th s construction the breech of the gun may be lowered alongside ot' the elevating apparatus, and any desired elevation of the muzzle up to ninety degrees may he had. "lhis extreme elevation cannot be had with an apparatus with which I am acquainted where the gun s on trunnicns and the elevating apparatus is beneath the breech.

The air-thtsk it is mounted on the gun-tube. being sustained by band .15, which surrounds the tube and supports the llask. The supplypipe connection to the breech ot the "un forms a sul'ticient support for the rear ot the flask.

The supply-pipe lti has a valve, it", which opens or closes-thepassage leading to t he breech ot' the gun. This valve l'Thas an operatinghandlc, it), and a projection, 20, which pro ection isin such proviniity tothehreech-hloek 2i,

or to the projection 22 thereon, that projection 20 will engage projection 22 it the breeclrblock be not nearly closed, and will thus prevent the opening ot' the valve. Breech-Mock 21 is of the swinging or molasses-gate pattern in this gun, and the part 22 has preferably an nclined side, as shown in Fig. 4, so that if the bi'ecclrblock be nearly closed the engagement otpart 20 with this incline will force the breech-block to its position. I

The dotted line, Fig. 4, shows the path of movement of projection 22 in opening,'and it will be seen that it can swing open but a little way before it becomes an obstruction to the movement of the part 20, and thus locks the valv e.'- It will thus be seen that the valve and breech-block serve as a check, each on the other. The valve cannot be opened-until the breech-block is so nearly closed that it is practically secure. The movement of the valve in opening gives the additional'movement to complete the breech-closure, if such is necessary, when it beginsto move, and before the air really enters the gun tube. This inter" locking of valve and breech is very important to prevent accldents.

The handle 23 serves to swing the breechblock open.

The supply-hose C is connected with the inflow-pipe 24 by a union or other suitable coupling. and ajsmall cock, 25, serves to shut ofi" the air sup-ply when needed for the purpose. A convenient point of connection is that shown iuFigs. 4 and 5, the inflow-pipe being connected with the guusupply pipe 16. The pressure-gage 26 is most conveniently attached to the opposite side of the supply-pipe.

The rear sight, 30, is at one side of the airflask, and consists of an elevating post, 31, passing through asocket, 32, and being capable of adjustment by means of set-screw 33. The front sight, 34, is attached to the front of the air flask. This arrangement of sights on the side-of the air-flask secures an uninterrupted range of sights at all elevations, which would not be-the casewere the sight attached to the gun-tube.

- A small escape or blow-off cock, 35, at the lowest point of the flask permits the relief of overpressure, and the escape of water of condensation. As the gun is nearly always'fired .at an elevation, this location of the escapecock and other operating mechanism is of importance, as it places the gun entirely under the control of the gunner-without moving from his position.

The arrangement of the gun on a carriage by means of a 'pintle on the yoke-piece enables the gun to be shifted quickly to any form of carriage having a socket for thepintle, and the traverse is secured by swinging the gun on this pintle. The offset or overhang of the yoke allows any desired elevation. The arrangemeut of the elevating apparatus at one side and outside the yoke insures that the elevatinghandle shall, not be in the way of the gun at extreme elevations. The locking of the valve by the breech block when the breechthe valve is operated to discharge the gun.

I claim 1. The combination, with a gun of the charactcr described, of a yoke which supports the trunuions of said gun, said yoke supported on a pintle, and having its arms extending oh- ]iqucly from the pintle toward therear of the gun, so that extreme elevation may be attained,

substantially as described.

I 2. The comoination, with a gun of the character described and a rearwardly-offset yoke supporting the same, of the elevating a para -tus arranged at one side of the yoke and gun, so that extreme elevation may be had by depressingtt-he breech alongside the elev apparatus. v

3. The combination, with a gas-flask, guntube, and asupply-pipe leading from the flask to the tube, of a valve controlling said supplypipe and a movable breech-piece to the gun 'tube constructed to lock the valve when the breech isopen, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a gun-tube, gas.-

swinging breech-block having a part which, when the block is open, locks the valve against movement, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a gas=tlask, supply-pipe, and gun-tube, of a movable breech to the gun-tube and a valve in the supply-pipe having a piece which interlocks with the breech-piece and holds the same closed when 6. The combination, with the flask, supplypipe, and gun-tube, of a breech-block having an inclined-surface projection and'a valve in thesupply-pipe having a projection whose line of movement engages the incline on the breechblock, to complete the closing of said block, as stated.

7. The combination, with the oscillating valve arranged transversely of the supply-pipe, and having an operating-handle and rearward projection, of the swinging breech-block having a projection in line of movement of the valve projection, said breech-block projection having an inclined surface, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

WALLACE A. BARTLETT,

M. L. WILLI-AMs, P. F. BRAWNER.

ating flask, and supply-pipe connecting the flask andtube, of a valve in the supply-pipe and a the valve is open, substantially as described.

.block is open prevents abortive shots, as would happen if the breech were partly opeuwh'en Eo 

